Coat
Dateca. 1760
OriginEngland, Nottinghamshire
MediumWool, linen, silk, leather, gold, and wood
DimensionsCoat:
Chest: 44 inches
Waist: 40 inches
Overall Length at Back: 27 inches
Overall Front: 43.75 inches
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund
Object number2022-38,1
DescriptionThe coat is made from green broadcloth, fully mounted in gold lace work in bullion. The interior of the coat is lined all in a twilled white silk. Each sleeve is lined in white linen with a narrow white twilled silk facing at the cuff. The sleeves terminate in a narrow cuff with two bands of gold lace and three buttons. The neck edge has a narrow band collar that is turned to help keep the neck from stretching out. The two exterior pocket flaps have deep white linen pocket bags with twilled white silk facings. The center back of the coat retains an older fashion style of pleat to each side of the center back. The gold lace is very neatly mounted around the neck and curves of the pockets.Label TextBroadcloth suits were a staple of American and British wardrobes. This suit descends through the White family of Nottinghamshire, England. While it came to auction with several garments belonging to Sir Thomas Woollaston White (1767-1817), stylistically it dates earlier. It may have belonged to his father, Lt. Col. Taylor White (1743-1795) or Grandfather Taylor White (1701-1772). His grandfather was a fellow of the Royal Society, acted as treasurer of the Foundling Hospital, and active Naturalist with over 900 watercolor images located in the collection of McGill University. The White's family seat is known as Wallingwells.
ProvenanceWorn by either Taylor White [1701-1772](Wallingwells, Nottinghamshire) or his son Lt. Col. Taylor White [1743-1795] (Wallingwells, Nottinghamshire); by descent to son/grandson Sir Thomas Woollaston White, 1st Baronet of Tuxford and Wallingwells [1767-1817] (Wallingwells, Nottinghamshire); 1817-2018 by descent probably through the Baron of Tuxford and Wallingwells; 2018 sold at Stroud Auctions; 2018-2022 owned by James Kochan; 2022 sold at Casco Bay Auctions; 2022 purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
